1 The following is a list of the men who joined David when he was at Ziklag, still hiding from Saul, son of Kish. They were some of the leading warriors who fought on David's side. 2 They were all skilled archers, and could shoot arrows or slingshots with their right or their left hands. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. 3 Ahiezer was their leader, then Joash; the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; 4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite (a strong warrior among the Thirty, and leader over the Thirty); Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite; 5 Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (they were Korahites); 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor. 8 Some warriors from the tribe of Gad went over to David's side when he was at the stronghold in the desert. They were strong and experienced warriors, battle-hardened, experts in the use of shields and spears. Their faces looked as fierce as lions, and they ran as fast as gazelles in the mountains. 9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah (second), Eliab (third), 10 Mishmannah (fourth), Jeremiah (fifth), 11 Attai (sixth), Eliel (seventh), 12 Johanan (eighth), Elzabad (ninth), 13 Jeremiah (tenth), Machbannai (eleventh). 14 These warriors from Gad were army officers. The least able of them was in charge of 100 men; the best was in charge of 1,000. 15 These were ones who crossed the Jordan River in the first month of the year when it overflows its banks. They chased out all the people living in the valley, both to the east and to the west. 16 Some others from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah also came to join David at the stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and told them, “If you've come in peace to help me, we can be friends. But if you've come to betray me to my enemies, even though I've done no wrong, then may the God of our fathers see what you're doing and condemn you.” 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty. “We are yours, David, and we are with you, son of Jesse! May peace, prosperity, and success be yours and those who help you, for God is the one who is helping you.” So David allowed them to join him, and put them in charge of his bands of raiders. 19 Others came over to David's side from the tribe of Manasseh and joined him when he went with Philistines to attack Saul. However, the Philistine rulers eventually decided to send them away, saying to themselves, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts us and goes over to his master Saul.” 20 The following is a list of the men from Manasseh who went over to David's side as he returned to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiders for they were all strong and experienced warriors and commanders in the army. 22 Men arrived daily to help David until he had a large army, like the army of God. 23 This is a list of the numbers of armed warriors who came and joined David in Hebron to turn over Saul's kingdom to him, as the Lord had said. 24 From the tribe of Judah, 6,800 warriors carrying shields and spears. 25 From the tribe of Simeon, 7,100 strong warriors. 26 From the tribe of Levi, 4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, and with him 3,700, 28 and Zadok, a strong young warrior, with 22 members of his family, all officers. 29 From the tribe of Benjamin, from among Saul's relatives, 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul up until this time. 30 From the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800 strong warriors, each highly regarded in his own clan. 31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 men were designated by name to come and make David king. 32 From the tribe of Issachar came leaders who knew and could understand the signs of the times and what Israel should do—a total of 200 leaders of the tribe together with their relatives. 33 From the tribe of Zebulun, 50,000 warriors. They were fully armed and battle-ready, and totally dedicated. 34 From the tribe of Naphtali, 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors carrying shields and spears. 35 From the tribe of Dan, 28,600 warriors, all battle-ready. 36 From the tribe of Asher, 40,000 experienced warriors, all battle-ready. 37 From the east side of the Jordan River, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 warriors carrying all kinds of weapons. 38 All these men came to Hebron dressed for battle, completely committed to making David king. All of Israel agreed that David should become king. 39 They stayed three days there, eating and drinking together, for their relatives had provided them with supplies. 40 Their neighbors, even as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, arrived bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They had plenty of flour, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, for Israel was so happy.
1 Chronicles · Free Bible Version
1 Chronicles 12 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Adnah
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Ahiezer
Chief of the Benjamite archers, Saul's kinsmen, who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Amasai
Chief of the Thirty; the Spirit came upon him and he declared that he and his men were with David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:18
Attai
Sixth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:11
Azarel
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Azmaveth
Named as the father of Jeziel and Pelet, Benjamite archers who joined David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Bealiah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Beracah
Listed among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Eliab
Third in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Eliel
Seventh in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:11
Elihu
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Elkanah
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Eluzai
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Elzabad
Ninth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:12
Ezer
Chief of the Gadite mighty men who defected to David in the desert stronghold.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Ishmaiah
Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty, who joined David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Isshiah
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Jahaziel
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jashobeam
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Jediael
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Jehu
Jehu the Anathothite, listed among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Jeremiah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jeremiah
Fifth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:10
Jeremiah
Tenth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:13
Jerimoth
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Jeroham
Named as the father of Joelah and Zebadiah of Gedor.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Jeziel
Son of Azmaveth, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Joash
Son of Shemaah the Gibeathite, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Joelah
Son of Jeroham from Gedor, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Joezer
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Johanan
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Johanan
Eighth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:12
Jozabad
Jozabad the Gederathite, listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jozabad
One of the two Manassites named Jozabad who defected to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Jozabad
One of the two Manassites named Jozabad who defected to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Michael
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Mishmannah
Fourth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:10
Obadiah
Second in command among the Gadites who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Pelet
Son of Azmaveth, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Shemaah
Named as the Gibeathite father of Ahiezer and Joash.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Shemariah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Shephatiah
Shephatiah the Haruphite, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Zebadiah
Son of Jeroham from Gedor, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Zillethai
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Cross references (27)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Samuel 27:2–6; 1 Chronicles 9:39; 2 Samuel 1:1; 1 Chronicles 11:24–25; 2 Samuel 4:10
- 2 Judges 20:16; Judges 3:15; 1 Chronicles 12:29; 1 Samuel 17:49
- 3 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Samuel 11:4; 2 Samuel 21:6; 1 Chronicles 11:33
- 4 Joshua 9:3; Joshua 15:36; Joshua 9:17–23; 1 Chronicles 11:15
- 7 Joshua 15:58; 1 Chronicles 4:18; 1 Chronicles 4:39
- 8 2 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 17:10; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Samuel 24:22; 1 Samuel 23:14
- 14 Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 32:30
- 15 Joshua 3:15; Joshua 4:18; Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 49:19
- 17 1 Peter 2:23; Jude 9; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 12:1–2
- 18 Judges 6:34; Judges 3:10; John 6:67–68; 2 Samuel 17:25; Ruth 1:16
- 19 1 Samuel 29:2–9
- 20 Deuteronomy 1:15; Deuteronomy 33:17; Exodus 18:21; 1 Samuel 29:11
- 21 1 Chronicles 5:24; 1 Samuel 30:1–17; 1 Chronicles 11:21–22; 1 Chronicles 12:20; 1 Chronicles 11:10
- 22 2 Samuel 3:1; Job 17:9; Genesis 32:2; Joshua 5:14; Psalm 148:2
- 23 2 Samuel 2:3–4; 1 Chronicles 11:10; 1 Samuel 16:1; Psalm 89:19–20; 1 Samuel 16:3
- 27 1 Chronicles 27:17; 1 Chronicles 6:49–57; 2 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 11:9; 2 Kings 25:18
- 28 1 Chronicles 6:8; 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:53; 1 Kings 2:35; Ezekiel 44:15
- 29 2 Samuel 2:8–9; 1 Chronicles 12:2; Genesis 31:23
- 30 Genesis 6:4
- 31 Joshua 17:1–18
- 32 Ephesians 5:17; Esther 1:13; Luke 12:56–57; Proverbs 14:8; Isaiah 33:6
- 33 Psalm 12:2; John 1:47
- 36 1 Chronicles 12:33; Joel 2:7
- 37 Deuteronomy 3:12–16; Joshua 13:7–32; 1 Chronicles 5:1–10; Joshua 14:3; Joshua 22:1–10
- 38 Genesis 49:8–10; 1 Kings 8:61; Ezekiel 11:19; 2 Chronicles 30:12; Psalm 110:3
- 39 Genesis 26:30; 2 Samuel 6:19; Genesis 31:54; 2 Samuel 19:42
- 40 1 Samuel 25:18; Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 11:10; 2 Samuel 16:1; 2 Kings 11:20
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences